THE TWO-SIDE EFFECTS OF BETTER EDUCATION ON AGRICULTURAL SECTOR DEVELOPMENT
Dedi Untung Nurhadi, S.T.P., Prof. Yonosuke Hara, Ph.D.
2011 | Tesis | S2 Magister Ek.Pembangunan-
The performance of agriculture sector largely depends on the quality of manpower involved in the agriculture production. The improved education may enhance the agricultural productivity. On the other hand, the improved education may entice manpower in rural areas to shift to non-agricultural sector and hence leave the agricultural sector with relatively low educated labor. The present study discusses the role of education in agricultural productivity and in determining the choice of the on-farm or the off-farm economic activities amongst Indonesian rural paddy farmers. To examine the relationship between education and agricultural productivity and between education and off-farm work decision, the present study uses the comprehensive secondary data provided by the Indonesia Family Life Survey in 2007 analyzed by Ordinary Least Square (OLS). The important finding is that years of schooling of paddy farmers in rural areas have positive contribution on the rice production. The present study also suggests that increase in the average years of schooling of the family members may increase the ratio of work day in off-farm activities to on-farm work day. Considering the high role of education in the agriculture development, policy makers have to pay more attention on the improvement of the agricultural vocational school for youth generation who will continue agriculture development in the future. Meanwhile, for farmers who have been working in agriculture sector, the more effective education system is both vocational training and apprenticeships.
Kata Kunci : Agricultural development
